Paul Ferguson has two selections for us on Saturday; Stratum in the Newmarket 15:40 and Arthur Mac 13:40 at Hexham. Compare odds and bet.
After suffering trouble in running in the Ebor at York during the summer Stratum (3:40) races off the same mark in this afternoon’s Cesarewitch Stakes at Newmarket and he can plunder another big Flat prize for Willie Mullins.
The five-year-old had earlier ran a sound race from off the pace in the Ascot Stakes before winning the JLT Cup at Newbury in fine style. He’s had a light campaign and following his luckless run on the Knavesmire, it is assumed that he has been saved for this.
There are plenty of potential dangers in opposition, possibly none more so than the three-year-old Southern France, who boasts rock-solid Group 1 form and gets a handy weight-for-age allowance here. If he reproduces his St Leger run then he will be difficult to beat, but he’s been on the go for a long time now and Stratum looks the solid option. At his current odds (6-1 at the time of writing) he rates a sound each-way play, with plenty in his favour.
Chepstow stages a cracking card which kicks off the National Hunt season proper, where the in-form Philip Hobbs saddles two nice youngsters in the two divisions of the opening novices’ hurdle. Both look really competitive, however, and the trainer seems to have found a much easier opportunity for another hurdling debutant, Arthur Mac (1:40) up at Hexham.
The Getaway five-year-old stayed on powerfully when winning a Hereford bumper on soft ground on debut and wasn’t disgraced in the Grade 2 at Aintree on his only subsequent start. He looks sure to relish today’s longer trip and ought to be difficult to beat under Tom O’Brien.
Saturday’s selections:
1:40 Hexham – Arthur Mac; 4/5 Ladbrokes
3:40 Newmarket – Stratum; 7/1 Ladbrokes
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